After failing to qualify for the top four play-off positions, the Irish badminton team are grouped with Austria, Italy and Belgium to decide on the fifth to eighth placings at the Helvetia Cup in Lisburn.

Yesterday evening they defeated Austria 3-2 in their opening match and now face Italy and Belgium in today's play-off matches before the final group placings are decided tomorrow afternoon.

Both the men's and women's doubles overcame their Austrian opponents in straight sets, although Michael Watt and Keelin Fox went down in the singles games. Elaine Kiely and Donie O'Halloran then took the mixed doubles to ensure Ireland can begin today on a leading note.

Men's singles: J Cosh (Aus) bt M Watt 15-3 15-4. Women's singles: T Riedl (Aus) bt K Fox 13-12 11-6. Men's doubles: B Topping and M Topping bt H Cosh (Aus) and H Gotschol (Aus) 15-11 15-13. Women's doubles: E Kiely and J Plunkett bt S Franz and S Prutch (Aus) 15-4 154. Mixed Doubles: D O'Halloran and E Kiely bt H Cosh and T Riedl (Aus) 15-5 15-1.